In St. Louis, Dan Caesar reports FS Midwest Blues analyst Darren Pang is a "free agent this summer." Pang said, "Talks were going a little slowly. They have picked up in the last few days. That gives me hope I’ll return for my ninth year. But I thought this would get done sooner. That part is frustrating." Caesar notes what Pang also "finds frustrating is that he says the initial offer was for less money than he made under his five-year deal that just ended." Pang has "moonlighted as a commentator for NBC Sports Group, ESPN and NHL Network during his tenure in St. Louis." In fact, he was on NHL Network’s "draft coverage last weekend." Five years ago, he "turned down an offer" from TSN to be an analyst (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/30).
ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE: Longtime Hurricanes TV broadcasters John Forslund and Tripp Tracy, along with radio man Chuck Kaiton, each have signed new agreements to remain with the club. Mike Maniscalco will continue to serve as the team's TV/web host (Hurricanes). In Raleigh, Luke DeCock writes even though the renewals seem "like a given, since Kaiton and Forslund have called every locally broadcast Hurricanes game since the team arrived in North Carolina, it’s anything but." They have both "turned down opportunities elsewhere, and Forslund’s frequent (and outstanding) work for NBC makes him a potential replacement for Doc Emrick somewhere down the road." They may not be the "unabashed 'homers'" Owner Peter Karmanos has "said publicly he would prefer, but fans certainly appreciate their willingness, each to various degrees at various times, to call things as they are" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/30).
CALLING AN AUDIBLE: College football reporters Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel their latest "The Audible" podcast addressed the decision by Fox Sports this week to cut its writing staff. Feldman noted his contract with Fox ended in April, but he was “very happy” with the way things were going on TV, particularly as a sideline reporter. Feldman will continue in that role this season. He had been posting stories in recent months to his Facebook page, but going forward, he “should have news ... in the next week or two” as to where his written pieces will land. Mandel said he knew this was the direction FoxSports.com was headed since “shortly after the college football national championship game." He added, "My time at Fox Sports is coming to an end (July 6), and I am very optimistic right now. I’ve had conversations that would indicate there could be some very cool opportunities coming" ("The Audible," 6/27).
NOTES: The San Jose Mercury News' Mark Purdy notes his last column "will appear Aug. 6," after which he will be "off to new adventures." Purdy is "not retiring from writing." Purdy: "There are potential book projects and other journalistic undertakings in my future. It’s simply time to leave behind the Mercury News, East Bay Times and the daily sports grind" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/30)....Former USA Today NFL reporter Tom Pelissero has joined NFL Media. Pelissero will begin July 1 and will contribute to NFL Network and NFL.com (NFL).
